Agenda item

This item is before the Committee for it to fulfil its role in the scrutiny of the work of the Exeter Community Safety Partnership as required by the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009 under the Police and Justice Act 2006

To consider the report of the Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator – report circulated

Councillor Newcombe declared a personal interest as a Member of Devon County Council and Chair of the County’s Children and Young People’s Services Overview/ Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair welcomed Superintendent John Vellacott to the meeting.

The Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator presented the report providing Members with the opportunity to comment on the progress of the work of the Exeter Community Safety Partnership in delivering the actions within the Community Safety and Misuse of Drugs Strategy.  This item was before this Committee for it to fulfil its role, as agreed at Executive on 16 June 2009, in the scrutiny of the work of the Exeter Community Safety Partnership, as required by the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009 under the Police and Justice Act 2006.

The report set out crime figures for the end of March 2009. Crimes had been reduced by some 20% over the previous three years with a continued reduction for 2008/09 when compared with 2007/08. There had been substantial reductions in motor vehicle crime through the combined efforts of partner agencies, through focus on offenders and targeting hot spots.

The following responses were given to issues raised by Members:-

·            statistics relating to sexual offences covered a number of different types of incident. The figure of 125 incidents in 2008 had increased to 148 in 2009 and reflected the availability of an improved service for victims of assaults. There were also other issues including the delayed reporting of incidents from childhood and the greater involvement of females in the binge drinking culture. With regard to the latter, Members asked if additional information could be made available and broken down in respect of those areas of the City suffering from problems of late night drinking in association with pubs and night clubs. The Superintendent referred to the recent decision of the Licensing Committee to consult on the introduction of a Cumulative Impact Zone in the Fore Street/South Street area of the City.

·            all reported crimes were recorded but priority given to investigating the more serious incidents. More minor matters were generally not pursued.

·            the introduction of measures linked to “drinking ASBO’s” would be discussed with the Head of Environmental Health Services and his team at the Council.

·            the criteria for the statistics had changed over the years but were important to build a full picture of crime patterns.

·            there was a risk of some PACT meetings being activist driven where individuals tried to focus on particular issues. However, the PACT process incorporated measures other than traditional public meetings, such as street briefings, household calls and Police presence outside supermarkets.

·            Exeter was currently meeting the detection target rate of 30% (currently standing at 29.8%) and this was the second best in Devon. Exeter was out performing the rest of the Force in respect of detections of sexual offences and rape over the last 4/5 years.

·            where an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) was served on young people the parents were involved as far as possible as co-signatories.

·            the PACT initiative included the involvement of the Probation Service and environmental visual audits. The latter was an important initiative involving, for example, the quick removal of graffiti.

·            some 30 families had been involved in the Family Intervention Project with only one eviction occurring where the behaviour had not improved. Generally, behaviour had improved including an improved school attendance record. There had been a reduction in the number of children at risk.

The Family Intervention Project was supported financially by the RESPECT task force and had been sustained over a three year period because of a year on year under spend which had been carried over each year. Funding for 2010/11 would be reduced as the RESPECT funding tapered and available funding in 2010/11 was likely to be at only 50% of the 2009/10 level. The Chair asked for a further briefing on this initiative and it was considered appropriate for this to form the topic for a Special Meeting of this Committee in its role as the Scrutiny body for community safety matters.

The Chair thanked Superintendent John Vellacott for attending.

Scrutiny Committee – Community supported the proposal for a Special Meeting of this Committee to be held to consider the Family Intervention Project.

(Report circulated)